Today is one of the most important, and frequently ignored, “international” holidays in the world. I am proud that my daughter’s birth country, Kazakhstan (with whom she shares dual citizenship) has made International Women’s Day a national holiday.

On this day, let us pause and give serious thought to the atrocities suffered by millions of women every minute of every day in our modern, “civilized” world–barbaric acts such as human traffiking, arranged and forced marriages, and group rapes–too often ignored for political reasons by government officials.

Rather than give lip service to this often-overlooked holiday or simply pat ourselves on the back for wishing a female a “Happy Holiday,” why don’t each of us take a pledge, not only to celebrate the many societal contributions by women, but also to take some step, however small, to stamp out the evils that bring great suffering to millions of women throughout the world? I am including below some links to worthwhile organizations whose missions include stopping human trafficking, domestic abuse and other important actions to make the world a safer place for women, as well as websites that describe the atrocities facing women today (WARNING–Some of the descriptions and images are not for the faint of heart.)

In conclusion, please celebrate this wonderful international holiday by showing appreciatin and kindness to the women who have made a difference in your life or the life of someone dear to you, however insignicant, but also do not forget the millios of women victimized and marginalized throughout the world simply because of their gender.

The March 3, 2015 edition of The Terry Clarke Daily is out. I appreciate the response so far, and I have incorporated several issues into regular articles at the request of many of the publication's readers. I continue to request additional areas of interest readers would like to see in future editions.

Please click on the link below for today's edition. As always, please provide any comments on any of the articles, photos and videos, and let me know other subjects you would like to see Included in future editions. Thanks to everyone who has previously suggested content for inclusion.

It’s The 4th-Biggest Illegal Industry In The World, And In 11 Years, It Will Destroy Itself

There is a terrible epidemic in the killing and trade of endangered species worldwide for profit. While the extinction of any species is one of the worst acts humankind can inflict on a helpless animal, there are aspects to this needless killing which have even more far-reaching consequences that some say could endanger humans themselves. The video below will explain, in very graphic detail how ivory trade could ultimately destroy the human race.

One elephant is killed every 15 minutes and 96 elephants are killed each day.

The ivory trade is not only illegal, it is also a huge-profit enterprise for organized crime and for radical groups who use money from their killing spree to finance terrorist activities around the globe.

Each time you buy an “innocently produced” ivory trinket or souvenir, please recognize you are taking part, indirectly, in the needless killing of the majestic elephant and are furthering organized crime and terrorist activities.

Please view the video below (if you can make it through the gruesome images) and consider what, if anything, you can do or are willing to do to stop this senseless destruction of an important animal species and to, equally importantly, stop the spread of terrorism associated with these senseless acts of cruelty.

It’s The 4th-Biggest Illegal Industry In The World, And In 11 Years, It Will Destroy Itself

There is a terrible epidemic in the killing and trade of endangered species worldwide for profit. While the extinction of any species is one of the worst acts humankind can inflict on a helpless animal, there are aspects to this needless killing which have even more far-reaching consequences that some say could endanger humans themselves. The video below will explain, in very graphic detail how ivory trade could ultimately destroy the human race.

One elephant is killed every 15 minutes and 96 elephants are killed each day.

The ivory trade is not only illegal, it is also a huge-profit enterprise for organized crime and for radical groups who use money from their killing spree to finance terrorist activities around the globe.

Each time you buy an “innocently produced” ivory trinket or souvenir, please recognize you are taking part, indirectly, in the needless killing of the majestic elephant and are furthering organized crime and terrorist activities.

Please view the video below (if you can make it through the gruesome images) and consider what, if anything, you can do or are willing to do to stop this senseless destruction of an important animal species and to, equally importantly, stop the spread of terrorism associated with these senseless acts of cruelty.

It was just a matter of time in a capitalistic world–How long could a service (connection to the Internet) remain free when so many high dollar investors have been salivating for years for their share of profits from a slice of the Internet pie? Now that nearly every person in the world has become addicted to the Internet to manage their daily lives, it is only fitting that the deep pockets are now swooping in to ensure that every one connected to the Internet pay for their Internet service. Pick an adage: “If it seems to good to be true. It is.” There is no such thing as a free lunch.” And on and on and on . . . .

People throughout the world advocating Internet freedom

The publication, The Nation, has issued a warning that global citizens had better act fast if they wish the Internet to remain free–actually very fast, as in 5 days fast, as discussed in the article linked below.

The folks who run blog.startpage.com have also begun an ad campaign advocating everyone interested in keeping the Internet free post the image below. I would be interested in hearing differing views on where people stand regarding Internet “freedom.” If you don’t mind sharing your position publicly, please provide your position in the comments section of this post.

In the past I did harbor some measure of concern about my social media privacy, but eventually I came to the realization that there was no longer a reason for my concern–Big Brother has (or will have) all of my posted information anyway . .. so there is no need to worry. I simply strive to be a little more cautious about what I post to social media or what I say in email to friends.

I do, however, constantly preach to my teenage daughter about the need for caution when using social media, even though she has yet to give me a single reason to question her judgment on such matters. When I see some of the posts she shows me from her classmates, I cringe about the many interviews and opportunities that will be denied them by prospective employers or boards reviewing applications to professional schools.

The linked article above provides a very good description of the current state of privacy in our addicted-to-wifi society and our “digital thumbprint.”

I have a very keen interest in the state of affairs of the post Soviet countries, as described below, but I recently came across a very good article in The Guardian that lists the current state of affairs of the 15 post-Soviet countries, and am providing the link below.

My daughter was adopted from Kazakhstan nearly 14 years ago–not that long after the Soviet Union collapsed, relatively speaking. Because I have tried very hard to keep my daughter connected to her motherland (with whom she holds a dual citizenship), I have befriended many hundreds of Kazakhs on Facebook, LinkedIn and through Skype and simply word of mouth. My daughter Milena (Tulegenova) Clarke is from the Middle Horde (Orta Zhuhz) and the Naiman tribe (ru) and she and I have visited Kazakhs throughout the USA during my business trips over the years and spoken with many over Skype or Goggle’s Hangouts. Accordingly, I know much better how Kazakhstan has faired (extremely well, despite the crude, inaccurate portral in Boraдt) than the other former Soviet countries since the collapse of the USSR.

I am constantly amazed by the Kazakhs’ closeness to and concern for one another, even including their great concern for my daughter, who has not yet returned to her mother country (though I plan to take her “home” for an extended holiday for her 16th birthday next year). I continuously receive articles and music related to Kazakhstan to show Milena, though at her age, they oftentimes send information directly to her. Milena continues to list Almaty, Kazakhstan as her hometown at every opportunity and tries diligently to celebrate her Kazakh culture as much as she does her American culture (whatever that is).

Milena maintains pride in the heritage of both countries in which she has dual citizenship.

When the national media reported on the Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund (AALDEF) filing of complaints with the U.S. Department of Justice and U.S. Department of Education against Milena’s former school system for their deliberate indifference in allowing her to be harassed and the subject of discrimination (and accompanying retaliation) based on her ethnicity, national origin and race, well over a thousand Kazakhs came to her defense on Facebook, creating a page dedicated to Milena and offering her support in both English and Russian. Most of our Kazakh friends know that I have raised Milena to be bilingual (English, out of necessity, and Russian, her first language–though she is determined to learn Kazakh, which, though it currently uses the same Cyrillic alphabet as Russian, is a Turkic, not a Slavonic language).

The Kazakh Facebook community’s show of support for Milena

I have had more contact with Central Asians because of the similarty of their cultures with Kazakhstan, maintaining friendships with people of Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan. Also, because my daughter and I practice the Russian Orthodox faith, we have a greater understanding of the non-secular issues of Russia.

If anyone has any information they would like to share on any of the 15 post-Soviet states, please be sure to add your thoughts, ideas or information in the comments section.

I do not practice and have never practiced International or Military Law, but Professor Turley was an excellent professor while I earned my LL.M. At George Washington University. He certainly is very clear on his position that the U.S. torture of prisoners post 9-11 was not and could not be justified under any American or International Rule of Law.

Following the admission that the CIA hacked Senate computers and lied to Congress, President Obama today affirmed that it did indeed torture people. This admission (while belated) is an important recognition by the United States of what is obvious from a legal standpoint. However, that also means that CIA officials violated both federal and international law. The question is why Obama began his first term by promising CIA employees that they would not be tried for what he now describes as “tortur[ing] some folks.”

Hours & Info

I am first and foremost a father to a wonderful Ethnic Kazakh teenage daughter, I am an environmental attorney, professor, Human Rights Commissioner, and deeply committed to ending racism (to the extent it is possible), eradicating bullying in our nation's schools and the teachers who turn a blind eye to the victims. In short, my goal is too make the world just a little better place with the time I have left. I have an interest in my daughter's Kazakh heritage, Central Asia and the countries of the former USSR. I am also a huge basketball fan and enjoy watching my 6', 158 pound daughter excel in basketball at the highest levels of amateur basketball with Kentucky Premier, a Nike sponsored travel team, competing in Nike EYBL (Elite Youth Basketball League) tournaments. You can contact me at terryclarke@outlook.com with ANY questions or comments about my interests or subjects you would like to se addressed on my blog. Also you can follow me on Twitter at terryclarke76 or Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/terryclarke76.